Israel's Public Relations: The Problem and the Solution

It is worth noting that the Jewish State was effectively created through the efforts of the countries of the world in San Remo and Geneva years prior to the Holocaust.

Jerusalem, except for fewer than 200 years in the 11th and 12th Centuries, when it was the capital of a short-lived Crusader State, has only been a capital city under Jewish rule. At other times since the Roman conquest it was not even considered by Muslims, or anyone else, a provincial city of consequence.

In the War of 1948-49, Jordan illegally seized Jerusalem, ethnically cleansed its Jewish inhabitants, destroyed all the synagogues and on top of the ancient sacred Jewish cemetery on the Mount of Olives, after taking ancient Jewish headstones to use as the floor of latrines, Jordan built a hotel.

The aggression by Egypt, Syria and Jordan in June 1967 was overturned by Israel. Israel liberated Jerusalem, took control of the Golan Heights, from which Syrians had been shooting down at Israeli farmers, and entered the West Bank, which was under illegal Jordanian occupation.

Anti-Apartheid movements in South Africa wanted equal political and other democratic rights for all -- irrespective of race -- but never advocated the destruction of South Africa.

Israel currently has no Minister of Foreign Affairs, and the post of Minister of Information does not exist. This creates the message, as former Israeli Prime Minister Golda Meir put it, of being the "prime minister of six million prime ministers".

An even more urgent condition is that Israeli authorities refuse to deal with the considerable number of renegade Israeli academics (and others) harming Israel on the international scene, presumably for their personal reasons.

"War is the continuation of politics by other means," said by General Carl von Clausewitz nearly 200 years ago, has now morphed into: "Politics is war by other means".

Enemies who are inferior militarily have understood this; hence, from the height of admiration after the Six Day War, Israel has hit bottom, sharing the position with the likes of North Korea.

How and why is this?

A knowledge of history is essential; therefore it is the first thing one's enemies try to destroy. If one can falsely claim that biblical places such as Rachel's Tomb, the Cave of the Patriarchs, the Temple Mount or even Jerusalem are Islamic, even though Islam did not, historically, exist until hundreds of years later, one can consequently claim that there never was a Jewish connection to the land – so then why should the Jews have it?

If you do not know where you come from, you cannot know who you are or what values are worth defending. Shulamit Aloni, as Israel's Education Minister in 1992-1993, probably to accommodate the peace Israelis hoped would come after the Oslo Accords, purged Israel's history textbooks of anything that might be deemed "politically incorrect". Although she undoubtedly meant well, she did Israelis a major a disservice. The result was as if the U.S. government were to erase George Washington, the Federalist Papers and Abraham Lincoln from its textbooks and the ability to know one's past.

It is therefore essential that those who challenge Israel's right to exist and try to destroy Israel economically are met by historical reality. It is only through presenting facts rather than "narratives" that we can succeed in the media war. Israel should bring the old textbooks back -- immediately.

Successive Israeli governments, in a combination of indolence, over-confidence and general neglect, have ignored this reality. Rectifying this overwhelming problem has often been left to underfunded and only partially-informed, if well-meaning, private individuals and NGOs.

Not so, however, in the Muslim world. Since the "oil crisis" and the start of Palestinian terrorism in the 1970s, the Muslim world, in concert with many European leaders, led by those in France, has fully occupied the media battlefield. They have using whatever fabricated, inaccurate arguments they and their public relations firms dream up. Meanwhile, despite much howling and crying foul, the Israelis have not met this information deficit with perceptible positive action.

Israel — the Jewish State

Israel, one of the world's smallest states, roughly the size of New Jersey, has, since its inception, been under constant attack, physically, academically and in the media -- most destructively from its own citizens. They claim the right of "free speech" and often even seem to enjoy watching the fatal results, as if needing to confirm a need for malignant power.

The establishment of the Jewish State was Theodore Herzl's answer of turning the messianic dream of millennia into a political reality. After World War I, the victors dismembered the Ottoman Empire and created a number of new Arab states as well as Mandates, one of which was Britain's Mandate for Palestine. Palestine at that time was a geographic term only, invented by the ancient Romans in a still earlier attempt, by renaming Judea, to strip the land of its Jewish roots.

Britain's Mandate to create "a national home for the Jewish people in Palestine" was confirmed, in 1922, by all 52 member states of the League of Nations. Its heir, the United Nations, in 1947, by two-thirds majority, confirmed the establishment of a much-reduced Jewish State, as the bulk of the territory originally mandated to the Jews had been handed over to the independent kingdom of Transjordan.

It is worth noting that the Jewish State was effectively created through the efforts of the countries of the world in San Remo and Geneva years prior to the Holocaust.

Population

In 1882, an Ottoman census showed 141,000 Muslims in the country; in 1906, of the 60,000 inhabitants of Jerusalem, 40,000 were Jews. Jerusalem, except for fewer than 200 years in the 11th and 12th Centuries, when it was the capital of a short-lived Crusader State, has only been a capital city under Jewish rule. At other times since the Roman conquest it was not even considered by Muslims or anyone else, a provincial city of consequence.

In the War of 1948-49, Jordan illegally seized Jerusalem, ethnically cleansed its Jewish inhabitants, destroyed all the synagogues and on top of the ancient sacred Jewish cemetery on the Mount of Olives, after taking ancient Jewish headstones to use as the floor of latrines, Jordan built a hotel, overlooking dead Jews.

During the British Mandate, which lasted until May 14, 1948, while the 1936 British White Paper restricted Jewish immigration into Palestine to 75,000 over a five-year period, Arabs from all the neighboring territories were allowed to flood, unrestricted, into the country.

The aggression by Egypt, Syria and Jordan, in June 1967, was overturned by Israel. Israel liberated Jerusalem, took control of the Golan Heights, from which Syrians had been shooting down at Israeli farmers, and entered the West Bank, which was under Jordanian occupation. Jordan's King Hussein, promised by Israel that his country would be left if peace if it did not attack, instead, presumably worried that he might miss out on the spoils, entered the war. If one initiates aggression, one should be prepared to lose. Never in history has the victorious victim in a defensive war been requested to return territory to the aggressor. Germany, as the aggressor, lost thousands of square miles to Poland, as would be expected.

In 1979, Israel returned all Egypt's land, held since1967, in exchange for peace. In 1994, a peace agreement was also signed between Israel and Jordan.

Meanwhile, in the West Bank, the Arabs demanded their own independent state – a demand not made when occupied by Jordan.

As to charges that there are Palestinian refugees and that Israel is an "Apartheid State," the sad fact is that Palestinian refugees were caused by Israel's neighbors themselves through starting a war against the new state in 1948. Arabs were told by their Arab brethren to leave the area to make it easier to defeat the Jews -- after which, the Arabs were promised, they could return to their homes. Arabs fled to neighboring territories, where to this day they are basically incarcerated for Arab political reasons.

As Israel has absorbed 600,000 Jewish refugees expelled from Arab countries, surely Arab countries, with their vast wealth and territory, can absorb what was originally 600,000 refugees -- who chose to leave Israel of their own free will. The Arabs who remain are full-fledged citizens of Israel with full equal rights, all job opportunities, their own political parties, judgeships on Israel's Supreme Court, and full membership in Israel's parliament, and make up about 20% of the population.

As Germany absorbed millions of refugees after World War II, and more than 14 million people are estimated to have been transferred during the difficult birth of India and Pakistan, there should be no problem unless one wants there to be one.

Anti-Apartheid movements in South Africa wanted equal political and other democratic rights for all -- irrespective of race -- but never advocated the destruction of South Africa. The promoters of the current so-called "anti-Apartheid" movement against Israel are, in fact, openly striving for its destruction.

Peace with Israel's neighbors

Most Muslim countries, in direct contravention of U.N resolution 181, do not recognize the State of Israel. To this day, their outspoken aim is the destruction of the county; hence a two-state solution and peace are impossible as long as the following reality exists:

Palestinian National Charter: Extract Article 19: "The Partition of Palestine in 1947 and establishment of the State of Israel are entirely illegal regardless of the passage of time".

Fatah Constitution: Extract Article 12: "Complete liberation of Palestine and the eradication of Zionist economic, political, military and cultural existence."

Hamas Charter: Extract Article 13: "Initiatives, the so-called peaceful solutions --- are all contrary to the beliefs of the Islamic Resistance Movement...There is no solution to the Palestinian problem except by Jihad".

It is obvious that one cannot negotiate until Israel's neighbors rescind their destructive resolutions and show a genuine willingness for peace, in particular by educating their publics for peace instead of murder, and when everything can be put on the table for discussion.

It is also important to note that the UN Security Council Resolution 242, after 1967 war rejecting the word "the" before "territories" to be returned. Resolution 242 anticipated that Israel cannot be expected to go back to the 1949 armistice lines. Lord Caradon, one of the architects of the resolution, in a letter to The Times of London, explained:

"It would have been wrong to demand that Israel return to its position of June 4, 1967, because these positions were undesirable and artificial and just happen to be the places on the day the fighting stopped in 1948".

The French, however, in their translation of the text of 242, inserted the "the"; since then, the English version has incorrectly inserted it as well, creating the totally false impression -- "fake news" -- that all territories are to be returned.

In Conclusion

Two other major problems in Israel have developed, which need most urgent attention.

Israel currently has no Minister of Foreign Affairs, and the post of Minister of Information does not exist. Presumably the former is handled by the Prime Minister when he has the time, whilst the latter falls between the cracks of other ministries. This creates the message, as former Israeli Prime Minister Golda Meir put it, of being the "prime minister of six million prime ministers".

Israel has a diplomatic budget of approximately 0.15% of GDP -- the lowest of all developed countries, although its needs are greater than any other. Canada, for instance, spends 0.25%; Germany 0.4% and the UK spends 0.75%.

An even more urgent condition, needing immediate attention, is that Israeli authorities refuse to deal with the considerable number of renegade Israeli academics (and others) harming Israel on the international scene, presumably for their personal reasons. It is incomprehensible how Israel's government and universities allow the claim of "abuse of 'academic freedom'" to justify those who support the openly anti-democratic forces advocating the destruction of the only democratic state in the Middle East. Never have the words of Abraham Lincoln in 1859 been more appropriate: "Those who deny freedom to others deserve it not for themselves".

As Benjamin Netanyahu summed it up in a 2006 Knesset speech, "if the Arabs lay down their arms there will be no more war, but if Israel lays down its weapons there would be no more Israel."

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25 Reader Comments

Elizabeth • Feb 23, 2017 at 01:04

Articles such as these need to be published in mainstream papers to reach the audience which is being lied to. For example, Netanyahu is now in Australia. This article shortened, explaining the chronology of the creation of the state of Israel and the lies being sold would be extremely helpful to combat the rubbish being currently printed and discussed. Preaching to the interested and converted is not enough.

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Elizabeth • Feb 22, 2017 at 18:23

Articles such as these need to be published in mainstream papers to reach the audience which is being lied to. For example. Netanyahu is now in Australia. This article shortened, explaining the chronology of the creation of the state of Israel and the lies being sold would be extremely helpful to combat the rubbish being currently printed and discussed. Preaching to the interested and converted is not enough.

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Brad Brzezinski • Feb 21, 2017 at 15:07

Israel certainly did garner admiration for the 6 Day War but much of it was grudging. France stabbed Israel in the back just prior to the '67 war and mostly maintained that negative stance. That Israel attacked Egypt pre-emptively was never forgotten and probably led to the disaster of 1973 with Meir letting Israel be attacked first, leading to heavy losses. Despite that, Europe (except Portugal) bowed to the oil threat and betrayed Israel over rearming. The USA nearly did too; were it not for Nixon alone, Israel might not be here today.

All that said, the analysis is otherwise excellent and the Israeli government should feel pressure to address the issues raised.

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John Rodgers • Feb 21, 2017 at 01:27

It should never be forgotten that the 1947 UN approval to establish a Jewish State included a plan for a Palestinian State. The boundaries set by the UN confined the Jewish State mainly to the Negev Desert and a narrow strip along the coast north of Gaza, plus a limited strip north and south of the Sea of Galilee. The remaining area west of the Jordan River was to be a Palestinian State, while Jerusalem was to be an international city embedded in the heart of the Palestinian area.
The Jews did not hesitate to accept the plan, in spite of it's limitations, and the Palestinians did not hesitate to reject the plan for obvious reasons. So much for any satisfactory two state solution now.

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Gary Gould • Feb 20, 2017 at 20:50

The famous historian Bernard Lewis said, "History does not change only the way we view it does". Your article is excellent and well highlights some basic history. Your comments on Israeli's and other Jews that make commentary that is deemed not in the best interest for Israel is accurate, however if not for this you can not claim Israel is a full democracy, however ill conceived the writings may be. I am always bemused that there are so many well educated Jewish people and we can market products and business's all over the world, but we are collectively so bad at expressing our narrative to the wider world. Netanyahu is a great spokes person, yet Israel as a whole and Jewish people around the world have had little to no effect of advancing Israel narrative and right to exist. Countless UN resolutions against Israel, countless protest rallies and BDS movements against Israel etc. stands out to clearly show that we are loosing the argument. We are not in any way winning the hearts and minds of the general public.

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Peter D Gardner • Feb 20, 2017 at 20:08

We already had a two state solution when Trans-Jordan was partitioned off from Britain's Mandate of Palestine, specifically to reserve territory for Palestinian Arabs. Those borders were cursory and would need small adjustments to ensure the protection of Israel. Perhaps we should go back to 'GO', not collect £200, and start again. It was a good deal, agreed with at least some Arab leaders: help with economic development in return for land. The reverse of that as Land for peace has proven to be disastrous.

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gary • Feb 20, 2017 at 19:49

Firstly it was not Bibi that said, '"if the Arabs lay down their arms there will be no more war, but if Israel lays down its weapons there would be no more Israel." That quote should be attributed to Golda Meir.

Now, while you are not wrong in your conclusions the solution that really would be effective is much simpler.Israel has lost about 20 years in the PR battle, it has always assumed because it had a military it would win the war but the battle field extends beyond land, it reaches far across traditional boundaries into peoples hearts and minds. To make matters more complex the media, the universities and academics have all taken an ideological view where Israeli is the villain. It does not matter what evidence exists or what the facts are, Israel has lost the war as far as PR goes. No amount of politicking can win it now, it is to late.

The solution lies not in diplomacy but in forging a legal team that starts to challenge the propaganda and lies people spread about Israel, dragging the combatants through a court system and the laws of libel, slander and defamation.

If an academic says something untrue on national tv he/ she should be sued. This will work on two fronts. It will make people think before they speak and perhaps research better and thus make informed comments.

Secondly it will stop publications and broadcasters from thinking they can promote these views without consequence. Financial punishment hurts.

Your solutions are good but they will be ineffective, another level of bureaucracy is not healthy, a generation of people have been brainwashed, any global event on Facebook takes about 5 comments in to see the ideas of Jewish conspiracy or Mossad involvement, intelligent university educated people think Jews are aliens, giant lizards, David Icke sold out seven nights in Wembley stadium. The time for rational and logical discussion is no longer available. Israel is deemed as dangerous as North Korea. I sit in Australia and watch current affairs programs where people make up outrageous stories about Israel and they get huge exposure. The boycott movement here is huge, endorsed by two main political parties.

The only solution is to take every serious claim through the courts. Sue them.

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Empress Trudy • Feb 20, 2017 at 16:29

Go back to 1998 when two colonels in the PLA published a paper called "Unrestricted Warfare". In it they clearly lay out the new order warfare which is warfare by ALL means. Combat, cyber, political, media, internet, international bodies, economic. ALL axes of conflict should be utilized. Israel has been very very slow to learn that they're not fighting the same war the same way as their opponents. They don't do a very good job of identifying who their opponents are and how that terrain shifts quickly depending on peripheral events and circumstances.

The problem isn't solely that Israel does a poor job in the media and political front. It's more important to note that these are not peripheral fronts; they care core fronts just like F-35's and submarines and counter terrorism operations. And make no mistake those other things are just as vicious and winner take all as any other front. Israel needs to understand all the dimensions an axes of the war they're in.

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Peter Cohen • Feb 20, 2017 at 16:10

As a matter of historical accuracy it was Chaim Wiezman and the early Zionists not Hertzl who were the main instigators of the Jewish state of Israel. Its earliest supporters include Loyd George and and Winston Churchill whoo wileded the power. Look up Weizman's auto biography "Trial and Error".

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dr. malcolm slavin • Feb 20, 2017 at 11:57

this is basically a clear, strong factual statement in support of israel's existence.
--the fact that the jews are the "indigenous people" in israel; the fact that successive "colonizations"--roman, arab, crusader, ottoman turk--displaced the israelites from their ancient home is generally not known.the myth that israel is a "colonial creation"--in any way similar to dozens of other european colonies--is rampant in western intellectual circles.
but,
israel must candidly face the fact that there is a profound inner conflict within israeli-jewish society/culture--a conflict between the majority of relatively secular humanistic jews and the more militantly orthodox, religious right. this internal conflict makes the job of effective international communication--in tone and content--very difficult. i believe it must somehow be faced more directly in order for a minister of foreign affairs/information to craft more effective communication with western audiences.

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Russell • Feb 20, 2017 at 11:41

The lies have been spreading like cancer throughout western society, spread by Islamist Professors to impressionable young people, by the media FNS (Fake News Society) who seem to have little understanding of their job descriptions, ethics, democracy and of their own responsibility to give factual untainted news to the public, western communists in the guise of liberals, democrats and socialist political parties like the labour party in the UK, by Arabs through any media they can get access to and by the globalist EU and the insanely biased UN.

The truth needs to be heard and every possible means of spreading the truth must be found and pursued vigorously in order to make any significant impact on those that have been deceived for so long by lying rhetoric and the twisted education systems that have become a propaganda machine for despots and terrorists.

No expense should be spared by Israel in publicizing the truth, the lies have been winning this communications war for far too long.

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Michele • Feb 20, 2017 at 11:36

Nice history lesson, but this is old news. Israel still isn't doing anything about it. There are non-Jews doing a much better job at PR and defending Israel!

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Terry C • Feb 20, 2017 at 10:31

WHO cares if we are not recognized by the Arabs? We are recognized by ourselves and that is all that matters!!!! Stop that nonsense...we know who we are and what we are...we know we exist and we MUST stop that need to be told that we exist!!!!

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JOHN BERKSHIRE • Feb 20, 2017 at 09:08

I also used to think that Israel's great problem in the international community, actually only in the Western World and Mohammaden countries, could be, at least, alleviated by a public relations campaign of large proportions. I have, with the passage of time, decided it would not only do no good but would be a huge waste of money. The 'oldest hatred' is alive, well and active today as it has been for much more than the last 2000 years. Nothing has rendered that hatred inactive not even the greatest slaughters which we might have thought would have persuaded our enemies to decide, enough is enough. It is really about time we Jews accepted we will never be loved and at times be butchered.

Of course that doesn't mean our lives in the West cannot be pleasant and productive and boy have we been productive but there will inevitably always be times when things become unpleasant for us. In the United States and Britain for instance things are particularly difficult for Jewish university students. Especially at top colleges like Harvard and Oxford and Cambridge, although I am glad to say that MIT doesn't suffer from the disease. Anyone in France, Belgium, Holland, Sweden and Norway who presents themselves as an obvious Jew is in danger. If you wish to remain a Jew, it is best to accept Shakespeare's wise comment put in the mouth of Shylock in the Merchant of Venice, "Sufferance is the badge of our tribe." That was true 500 years ago and it is true now.

Jew Hate is not so much a plague, more a sometime dormant virus liable to flare up at random on contact with political or moral opportunities. The virus which has taken hold over the few decades is Israel. The political or moral opportunity is the 'Palestinians'. Personally I doubt that few if any of those who choose to 'support' the Pals give a toss about them, but what an opportunity for the ancient attraction of Jew Hate. Do any of these ghastly Jew Haters give a damn about the Finnish province of Karelia taken by Russia in the 'Winter War' of 1939/40, along with the expulsion of more than 400,000 Finns from their homes by the Russians? Do they give a damn about the invasion, occupation and removals and murders in Tibet by the Chinese? Do they give a damn about the Turkish invasion, occupation and expulsion of 200,000+ Christian Cypriots to the South. Do they give a damn about the expulsion of 400,000 Palestinians from Kuwait after the first Gulf War, during which that cretin, Yasser Arafat, chose to support Saddam Hussein's invasion and occupation of Kuwait? Do they give a damn about the 4,000,000 inhabitants of the Sudetenland who were expelled by the Czechs after WW2, 40,000 of whom were killed? Do they give a damn about the 900,000 Tutsis hacked to death by the Hutus in Rwanda? There are other cases but these should suffice. In not a single one of these cases did those being invaded, occupied or expelled initiate any war or present any danger, unlike Israel which had to fight three wars in 25 years to save themselves from annihilation. Do those ignoramuses, who judging from their expressions are untroubled by intellectual ferment, whilst what passes for their philosophy of life is emblazoned on their T-shirts, know about the much too generous offers made by my country to the Pals for their own state in 2000 and 2008? Let's face it, even if they did it would make no difference. Jew Hate is not something that can be dealt with by rational argument, if it could my Grand Parents, Uncles and Aunts and Cousins would not have died by the exhaust fumes of a captured Russian tank engine in the Treblinka Death Camp in September 1942.

I believe the West is lost to us, Europe first and then America when those Jew Haters so abundant in their colleges reach positions of power. I know my Jewish State is making every effort to engage with the non-Mohammaden East where Jew Hate is not engraved on their DNA. The sooner the better. If my country is to spend money on promoting itself, it must be spent in the East where it will do some good. Yes President Trump is a pleasant change from the awful Hussein but that will only be temporary, a few years at most and after him God knows.

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Ramon Benardout • Feb 20, 2017 at 08:40

I am confused by some of the dates which appear to conflict.In the paragraph commencing "It is also important to note" there is reference to : Resolution 242 anticipated that Israel cannot be expected to go back to the 1949 armistice lines. However the reference to The Times Of London article by Lord Carradon refers to "These positions were artificial and just happen to be the places the day the fighting stopped in 1948.Your explanation would be appreciated.Kind regards.Ramon Benardout

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Avi Bracha • Feb 20, 2017 at 08:21

While all the points presented in the article are correct there is one missing important one; Jewish presence in Palestina and Jerusalén never ceased. Despite the Roman Empire efforts to eradicate Jewish life, symbols, and culture, a fraction of all that was striving across the land and even in Jerusalem. Crusaders and Islam conquers of Jerusalem and Palestina, were not a result of political agenda, they were a result of religious aspirations.

As for the underfunded struggle against the negative and damaging public opinion against The State of Israel, marketing is not a strong talent of the state. As in many other industries, in Israel the product will be good and its performance will speak for himself. The same can be said the issue of how Israel markets itself politically.

Thanks for your article

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Aron Gersh • Feb 20, 2017 at 07:52

I appreciate very much about this article and the important information it provides. One historic fact which seems to have been, at least partially, debunked, is that in 1948 all the Arab occupants left freely because they were told to do so by the Arab countries, so that Jews could quickly be disposed of and the State of Israel not born. There seems adequate evidence now that in some cases Palestinians were actively, forcefully and violently driven from their homes and villages. But, leaving that aside, i see very little value in such writing which justifiably justifies the extreme righteousness of our Jewish side and the extreme wrongness of the other, Arab side. This is not because I don't believe there is inherent evil, wrongness, in any impulses and intentions to wipe Israel off the map! The situation is scary, and my heart bleeds for my Israeli family and all of Israel who now have to cope with irrational, religious extremism. Nevertheless, this does not call for us dismissing all Arabs and Palestinians as being too inimical and irrational to talk to, to dialogue with. It seems to me, from my far-away ignorance, that the opportunity to create good relations with Israeli Palestinians and have them on our side has been sorely missed. With those, for whom some sort of reasonable dialogue might be possible, I would have like to see this post with two columns — what has been said here, and responses to that from the other side. Simply presenting the righteousness of "our side", is inherently narcissistic, and divisive. I would like to see posts that speak to the other side, suggest to the other side, talk to the other side. Ask them "why do you want to destroy us?" And print their responses. Or ask: "is there any way we can be creative here?". I know . . .you will call me naive, but one has to start somewhere . . .there is no alternative, Ein Brera . . .

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Chaim Belisowski • Feb 20, 2017 at 07:43

In "Israel Public Relation: The problem and the solution" (Feb 20), Benhard Lazaraus bemoans the dismal effect of Hasbara and Israel diplomatic failure to effect world opinion. He concludes that not enough is spent on Diplomatic relations, and this prevents the world from knowing the true history of the land and the connection of the Jewish people to it. That may be true, but I believe the problem is more fundamental and visceral.

The current perception which Israel is projecting to the world is that Israel is ready and eager to divide the land in order to attain peace. In the classic story of King Solomon and the baby, the woman who was ready to cut the baby in half was clearly not its mother. Likewise, an Israel repeating the "two-states solution" mantra, while the Palestinians chant "from the river to sea," conveys the message that Israel is willing to cut the baby in half, and therefore must not be the rightful owner.

Since the Balfour declaration, Jewish leadership has shown that it is ready to divide the land. World opinion has shifted against Israel; especially after it signed the Oslo Accords? It does not matter how great Hasbara's marketing becomes. They are marketing a defective product.

A sound product would be an Israel that is not willing to cut the baby in half. To achieve this, Israel needs to jettison the "two-states solution" mantra and take concrete action to demonstrate to the world that the entire land belongs to the Jewish people. This necessitates sovereignty over Judaism's holiest site, the Temple Mount, and allowing Jews to live anywhere in the land of Israel.

The chance that my family will need to seek refuge in Israel is not negligible. In 1930 the Jews of Germany were just as assimilated and felt just as secure as American Jews are today.

So I support Israel. I send money to the Friends of the Israeli Defense Forces (FIDF.ORG), an organization that provide comforts to soldiers in the field, who often have to spend months living in muddy ditches.

Sam Abrams
Rochester NY

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zack margolies • Feb 20, 2017 at 07:14

The problem is that the haters of Israel and the Jewish people are not interested in these facts. They only know what with whom they can identify. The agenda on our campuses is to teach that America and Israel oppresses other peoples to meet its needs. That's the prevailing sentiment that has taken hold in not only radical circles but in mainstream liberal Jewish circles. The Evangelical crowd supports Israel for its Biblical agenda.

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Michael Troster • Feb 20, 2017 at 07:08

Israel, while winning her military wars, has almost totally ignored and therefore has lost the propaganda wars. This is because they made NO efforts in this direction to counter the verbal and written efforts by her enemies to destroy her legitimacy. Sadly this strategy by the anti-Israeli and frankly anti-Semitic elements in the world to succeed in itheir destructive strategies. Wake up Israel, before it's too late.

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Peter Jositsch • Feb 20, 2017 at 06:06

Very interesting article, but who reads this? Only people who are interested in Israel!Why Israel doesn't have a Minister of Information if you know, that's important?Maybe you should publish this article also in other languages: German, French, Spanish!

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pioni • Feb 20, 2017 at 05:52

You are perfectly right, and your analysis is extremely helpful.But it is not right that NGOs, journalists, academics are left to roam freely in Israel and report lies. They have been given a free hand to sabotage Israel's reputation and its rights.Please carry on.Best wishes

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Jeff Dodick • Feb 20, 2017 at 05:21

What went largely missing here is the attempts that Israel has made to make peace with the Palestinians and other Arab neighbours:1. 1967 and the three NOs from Cairo2. 2000 PM Barak's tendered offer to Arafat was rejected3. 2008 PM Olmert's tendered offer to Abbas was rejected.

Two points should be raised concerning the 2000 and 2008 rejections.
1. The Palestinians rejected these offers largely because they did not include a "right of return". The Palestinians know that they can't beat Israel militarily; however, a right of return means a demographic victory as a return of all, or most of the so-called refugees would swamp Israel as a Jewish state. In other words, by insisting on this issue the Palestinians are really saying that they DO NOT accept Israel's existence as a Jewish state. The state can exist but only if it is subjugated to the control of the Palestinians.2. The Palestinians never offered a counter offer after Israel rejected a right of return, but returned to violence in both 2000 and 2008 when talks broke down.

So unless the current PM offers even more than Olmert and Barak there can be no deal. However Netenyahu also knows that "return" is suicide for Israel. No country, administration, academic or policy maker has ever come up with a detailed, concrete solution that will solve this problem.

If Israel's PR was smarter it would focus on ITS peace making attempts to show that it has made reasonable offers that were rejected by the Palestinians and then answered by waves of violence. (Even those in the Arab world were shocked by Arafat's rejection in 2000. Prince Bandar of Saudi Arabia called it a crime). Israel would hammer this message again and again, like any simple marketing message to counter the simplistic counter message of the Palestinians. Israel's message to the world has always been too complicated (as befits a people of the book). It should really be a few words: The Palestinians want Israel to commit demographic suicide, but Israel rationally refuses. That is why there is no peace.

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Josephine Bacon • Feb 20, 2017 at 05:05

A few years ago, a "Palestinian" came to our Holborn & St. Pancras General Committee meeting and said a few words. I asked him the following question: "Who governed the West Bank after the British withdrew from Palestine and until 1967?" He was furious and declined to answer!